CPR training for seniors

SWANSEA — The Swansea Ambulance Corps and the School Department are working together to present a program that will train all seniors at Case High School to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.

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By BILL HALL

southcoasttoday.com

By BILL HALL

Posted Aug. 28, 2013 at 11:05 AM

By BILL HALL
Posted Aug. 28, 2013 at 11:05 AM

» Social News

SWANSEA — The Swansea Ambulance Corps and the School Department are working together to present a program that will train all seniors at Case High School to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Monteiro along with Case High School Principal Brian McCann met at the Ambulance Corps building on Wilbur Avenue with Executive Director Kenneth Furtado and General Manager John Soares this past Wednesday afternoon.

"This is something that has been talked about but we could not get the details of the logistics before," said Mr. Furtado. "We had to work out the days and times. We will supply the equipment and the staff and go to the school."

Town resident Edward Hill, who was also at the meeting, got things started by contacting the School Department to see if they would be interested, according to Supt. Monteiro.

"The goal is to have every student certified before they graduate," Supt. Monteiro said. "It is something that can be valuable for them to know."

Mr. Furtado noted that the plan is to have the training done during physical education class during one week, probably in early December.

"It would be four, 45-minute classes per student, Monday through Thursday, with a Friday as makeup classes," said Mr. Furtado of the three-hour course.

Mr. Furtado noted that he was aware that some seniors do not take gym and they can be accommodated with an additional visit sometime after the first of the new year.

The course will include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of a defibrillator and all steps involved in first aid. There will be no tests.

It was pointed out that there was a situation with a student choking on a sandwich at the high school where a student went into action and a teacher familiar with first aid was able to extract the food.